Wild English Bluebells at Huxtable Farm B&B

May at Huxtable Farm B&B Devon & Covid-19 Update

We hope you are keeping well and staying safe as we enter our sixth week in lockdown.

Bluebells Pinkbells-&-Whitebells

Bluebells Pinkbells-&-Whitebells

Antony & I have been staying at the farm, looking after our stock, carrying on with the upkeep and maintenance of Huxtable Farm’s accommodation, gardens and farmland so that we are ready to welcome you back when the time comes.

We are monitoring government advice and bearing in mind the welfare of everyone who visits Huxtable Farm B&B, we have decided to close Huxtable Farm B&B until the 4th July 2020. However, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and take advice from the appropriate authorities and we will only reopen when it is confirmed that we have the ‘all clear’ to do so. If this means that we have to extend the temporary closer further, we will keep you updated.

Bee on Blossom

Bee on Blossom

Rebook for a future date; We very much look forward to the day when we can welcome you to Huxtable Farm B&B again. With this in mind, if you already have a booking with us we very much hope that you will postpone your booking and rearrange for a later date. Please do not hesitate to contact us via e-mail at jackie@huxtablefarm.co.uk

Please have a look at the fantastic variety of events due to take place in North Devon during 2020 by looking at Huxtable Farm B&B’s local Events/Farm Calendar so that you can plan your next stay to coincide with an event that interests you. Click or the button below to Check available dates at Huxtable Farm B&B.

Availability

Woolly - last years tame orphan lamb

Woolly – last years tame orphan lamb

Right now, it’s essential that we all continue to follow government advice, stay at home and support our dedicated front line service personnel. We would like to thank them all for the incredible work they are doing keeping this country going. We would also like to thank you for your patience, understanding and support during this extraordinary time.

We hope you enjoy the videos below of this years lambs at Huxtable Farm B&B. For more videos & photographs please do not hesitate to connect with us via our social media channels; Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Blog (News) on our website.

We look forward to welcoming you back to Huxtable Farm B&B just as soon as we are able to do so.

In the meantime, please take care, keep well and stay safe.

 

 

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Easter Eggs

Happy Easter from all at Huxtable Farm B&B Devon

Children Easter Egg Hunt

Children Easter Egg Hunt

 

As I fed the sheep, lambs, hens & chicks followed by a walk around the farms Devon Wildlife Trail this morning I thought about the many happy Easter weekends we have spent with our guests at Huxtable Farm B&B. After breakfast, the excitement on the faces of children looking for Easter eggs on the Easter Egg Hunt in the garden, followed by bottle feeding the tamed lambs and holding a real live Easter chick. We’re missing sharing these special Spring moments with you all
 
Antony, Bella(dog) & I are sorry that you are unable to join us this year, but we are thinking of you and sending you all our very best wishes for a Happy Easter and hoping that you can enjoy this weekend as much as possible, despite the very challenging circumstances that we all facing.

Jacob lamb resting

Jacob lamb resting

I hope you enjoy the video below of this years Easter Chicks at Huxtable Farm B&B. For more videos & photographs please do not hesitate to connect with us via our social media channels; Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Blog (News) on our website.

Hopefully, when this pendemic is all over we will see you later in the year.

Please have a look at the fantastic variety of events due to take place in North Devon during 2020 by looking at Huxtable Farm B&B’s local Events/Farm Calendar so that you can plan your next stay to coincide with an event that interests you.

Check available dates at Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, Barnstaple, Devon and Exmoor

Availability

We look forward to welcoming you back to Huxtable Farm B&B just as soon as we are able to do so. In the meantime, please take care, keep well and stay safe.

Easter at Huxtable Farm B&B Devon

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Exmoor Red Deer in the woods

Winter Wildlife on Exmoor & North Devon 2020

woodpecker

woodpecker

Availability

Winter is a special time to see a wide variety of Devon Wildlife from Exmoor Red Deer and the iconic Exmoor ponies in their fluffy winter coats to otters and dolphins in the rivers and sea respectively. Spotting wildlife on the farm during February and March is great too; – The trees don’t have their leaves yet so you can spot the Roe deer and Exmoor Red deer in the woodland, brown hares in the grassy verges, hear the spot lesser spotted woodpeckers and see buzzards soaring over head.

February is a fabulous time to enjoy the beautiful snowdrops of North Devon, littered in the hedgerow at Huxtable Farm B&B , RHS Rosemoor and at Snowdrop Valley (a privately owned remote valley in a hidden part of Exmoor close to Wheddon Cross open to the public until 23rd Feb 2020)

Breakfast next to a crackling log fire in the morning

Breakfast next to a crackling log fire in the morning

We hope everyone is keeping warm during these fresh, crisp, frosty days. Here the wood burners are roaring with wood from the farm – great for warming up next to having come in from outside after taking Bella, the Springer Spaniel, for a farm walk or having fed the sheep.

Our small flock of Jacob sheep are due to produce lambs at the end of March and during April – Do come and enjoy this time of year with us when the hibernation period is coming to end and our stunning countryside is waking up.

Cuddling Jacob sheep lamb at lambing time

Cuddling Jacob sheep lamb at lambing time

During April, leading up to Easter, 12th April some of the local attractions have #Easter #Egg hunts and Easter events to enjoy; April – Easter fun at RHS Rosemoor and National Trust Arlington Court
#Easter #Egg hunts to look forward to at all the attractions in the area; Quince Honey Farm, The Big Sheep, The Milky Way, NT Arlington Court, Hartland Abbey and find the Easter chicks at Clovelly!

To help you enjoy what’s going on in North Devon during March we have some SPECIAL DISCOUNTED RATES at Huxtable Farm B&B until 31st March.

Please also have a look at the fantastic variety of events due to take place in North Devon during 2020 by looking at Huxtable Farm B&B’s local Events/Farm Calendar so that you can plan your next stay to coincide with an event that interests you.

Check available dates at Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, Barnstaple, Devon and Exmoor

Availability

Tame orphan Romney lamb cuddle

Tame orphan Romney lamb cuddle

A few wildlife videos to enjoy

 

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Tarr Steps Exmoor

July – Fruit, butterflies & Things to do in North Devon

Butterfly-tortoiseshell

Butterfly-tortoiseshell

butterfly-peacock

Butterfly Peacock

Butterfly Green Veined White

Butterfly Green Veined White

Butterfly Meadow Brown

Butterfly Meadow Brown

Butterfly

Butterfly

Butterfly

Butterfly

 

Speckled wood Butterfly

Speckled wood Butterfly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The warm sunny weather this summer has been great for the butterflies

 

Shorn Jacob sheep

Shorn Jacob sheep

Fruit; Raspberries, Gooseberries and Logenberries

Fruit; Raspberries, Gooseberries and Logenberries

The ewes are pleased to have been shorn on the 2/7/18 and we now have Jacob fleeces available to purchase for spinning or felting. We also have some brown fleeces, a perfect natural material for when the weather gets colder and your plants e.g. Dalia’s need some protection from the frost.

Fruit picking is going well; the redcurrants are now Redcurrant Jelly, delicious with our Huxtable Farm Jacob Lamb. The gooseberries ‘Elderflower & Gooseberry Jam’ to have at the breakfast table with a warm croissant or some toasted homemade bread. The raspberries and loganberries as fresh fruit for breakfast.

RHS Rosemoor Rose Festival

RHS Rosemoor Rose Festival

 

Things to do/Events this July;

RHS Rosemoor Rose Festival has 2000 roses on display now 16th June – 22nd July – The largest rose gardens in the South West.

 

 

 

RHS Rosemoor Flower Show

RHS Rosemoor Flower Show

 

 

17, 18 & 19th August RHS Rosemoor Flower Show

 

 

 

New valley view through trees on Huxtable Farm Devon Wildlife Trail, now that our neighbour has felled a woodland area

New valley view through trees on Huxtable Farm Devon Wildlife Trail, now that our neighbour has felled a woodland area

National Trust Arlington Court – What’s on in July

Things to do for free at Huxtable Farm B&B

Tiverton Mid Devon Show 28th July

North Devon Show 1st August

 

 

Visit & see beautiful North Devon places;

National Trust Baggy Point near Croyde beach

National Trust Baggy Point near Croyde beach

Exmoor ponies near Landacre Bridge Exmoor

Exmoor ponies near Landacre Bridge Exmoor

Tarr Steps Exmoor

Tarr Steps Exmoor

Fly catcher on nest

Fly catcher on nest

 

 

Or stay at Huxtable Farm and enjoy the wildlife, such as these two very different fly catchers!

 

 

Cobwebs

Cobwebs

Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, Barnstaple, North Devon EX32 0SR

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Jacob lamb at lambing rime in Spring

Lambing and Easter chicks

Easter chick

Easter chick

 

The Easter chicks hatched on Easter Saturday and lambing has been quite challenging in the wet cold weather, lets hope a warm spell of sunshine arrives soon to dry out the fields, make the grass grow and for us all to enjoy – It’s always so lovely to see the lambs gambling in the sunshine.

 

Here are a few photographs through from a ewe giving birth to her lamb enjoying it’s first feed.

Jacob ewe in labour a lambs foot is just visible

Jacob ewe in labour a lambs foot is just visible

Lamb just born

Lamb just born

Jacob ewe cleaning her lamb

Jacob ewe cleaning her lamb

Ewe cleaning lamb and lamb starting to get up

Ewe cleaning lamb and lamb starting to get up

Lamb all clean with ewe

Lamb all clean with ewe

Lamb enjoying it's first feed

Lamb enjoying it’s first feed

 

Here are a few event’s occurring near to Huxtable Farm Bed and Breakfast (click on this link), in North Devon during the Easter holidays and local attractions with Easter activities; Quince Honey Farm, Castle Hill Easter Bunny Hunt The Big Sheep, The Milky Way, NT Arlington Court, RHS Rosemoor, Hartland Abbey and Clovelly.

However, there is also so much to see and do on and around the farm.

Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 0SR

 

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Anni Hart's Collage bird print by Annie Hart

New Art work for sale at Huxtable Farm B&B

We’re so please to be able to tell you that we now have on sale at Huxtable Farm B&B some beautiful lino prints of some of North Devon’s beauty spots and bird collage prints by local artist Annie Hart.

Ilfracombe Lino print by Annie Hart

Ilfracombe Lino print by Annie Hart

Annie Hart is a local artist who moved to North Devon in 1982 to start work as an Art teacher at nearby South Molton Community college. She gained a degree in Graphic design in 1979 from Bristol Polytechnic.

Annie works in various media including watercolour, lino-print, acrylic and collage.

Annie has exhibited locally and recently produced illustrations for country parks e.g., Colne Valley Regional Park in London. She undertakes commissions in any of the media above and common themes are flowers/landscapes/birds/local views etc. and is happy to work from photographs.

Collage pheasant print by Annie Hart

Collage pheasant print by Annie Hart

She can be contacted on 07644567814

or email: aineehart51@gmail.com

Collage bird prints by Annie Hart

Collage bird prints by Annie Hart

 

 

 

 

Other lino prints include ‘Clovelly’ and ‘Tarr Steps’

These make great souvenirs of your stay at Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, Barnstaple, Devon, in addition to the beautiful Huxtable Farm Jacob wool cushions, throws, wool and hand knitted hats etc.

 

To help you enjoy what’s going on in North Devon during March we have some SPECIAL DISCOUNTED RATES at Huxtable Farm B&B until 30th March 2017.

Additionally, please have a look at the fantastic variety of events due to take place in North Devon during 2017 by looking at Huxtable Farm B&B’s local Events/Farm Calendar

 

 

 

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RHS Rosemoor Rose Festival June - July

June – Roses, elderflowers, gooseberries and shearing!

Shearing the Jacob sheep in June

Shearing the Jacob sheep in June

June is such a busy time on the farm, so much so that I’ve only just round to writing this blog on the longest day of the year when we’re due to see a strawberry moon!
The rhubarb, gooseberries & elderflowers are lovely this year so there’s plenty of fresh produce for the breakfast table; honeyed rhubarb and homemade gooseberry & elderflower jam which is a favourite with everyone.
– The Jacob sheep seem pleased in this warm weather to have been shorn at the beginning of June and we now have lots of beautifully soft Jacob & Jacob cross Texel fleeces for spinners & felters to purchase.
– The birds are busy feeding their young and the Swallows and House Martins are soaring over the roofs & making their muddy nests in the eaves of the farm buildings.

Beautiful roses - RHS Rosemoor

Beautiful roses – RHS Rosemoor

 

– The Lupins and Roses are full of colour, which reminds me to visit RHS Rosemoor soon to see their beautiful rose gardens during their Rose Festival June 6 – 10th July.

June is a great time to visit the beautiful gardens, National Trust properties, historic houses, harbours and market towns of North Devon & Exmoor or enjoy a stroll away from it all on Exmoor along the side of a river (We’ll share with you some special places to visit!).

Devon Cream Tea welcome

Devon Cream Tea welcome

With National Cream Tea Day on the 24th June, in Devon we like to put the cream on the scone and the jam on top of the cream. You can enjoy a Cream Tea welcome any time of year at Huxtable Farm B&B

With Wimbledon & July approaching fast here’s a few things that are taking place over the next few weeks: –
What’s on at RHS Rosemoor – Rose Festival June 6 – 10th July
National Trust Arlington Court – Art displays during July
Getting active during your stay in North Devon
Beaches of North Devon

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